Makanda By The Sea

Costa Rica , Pacific Central Coast
MANUEL ANTONIO QUEPOS, PUNTARENAS, 1 Kilometro al Oeste de Centro Comercial
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2026

Sirak

Fantastic service with Candy at check in and throughout. Leo was absolutely instrumental in guiding our overall experience, gave fantastic food recommendations, was incredibly prompt at attending to every single need. The staff is overall 10/10. We stayed at the honeymoon grand villa and the accommodations were 10/10 in all respects.

10/10

Exceptional

07 Feb 2026

Ann

Fabulous hotel that combines both the jungle and the sea. We’ll run with an amazing staff.

8/10

Excellent

05 Feb 2026

Charles

Location was great, the main pool is really nice and also well laid out. The beach is beautiful, albeit a shame it's not exclusive for the hotel and only accessible during low tide. Elias on the bar was fantastic. Such a hard worker.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 Jan 2026

Jessica

The grounds are beautiful and the staff is really exceptional. However for the price, the hotel is lacking in some amenities that would make it a 5-star stay. Also, everything was about twice the price of what they reasonably should be charging. For example, the burger was USD$45, which as a New Yorker and frequent traveler, is one of the most expensive burgers I’ve ever seen!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jan 2026

Erik

Makanda by the Sea is exceptional—pure luxury in paradise. The staff makes every moment magical, and I’m deeply grateful for their warmth and care.
Jorge is an outstanding Spanish teacher, patiently guiding me with enthusiasm. Jessica, though new, excels and shines brightly. Alfredo at the front desk is the most helpful person alive—always going above and beyond. Andrew and Joe greet you with genuine smiles that instantly lift your spirits. Alexander bounces around with endless energy and a big “pura vida” smile, handling everything swiftly. Branden takes incredible care of our room, keeping it perfect. Elias at the pool bar is as friendly as can be. Roger, looking like a movie star, pops up everywhere with his infectious smile. Bayran provides excellent driving service. Johnathan and Samuel zip us around effortlessly from beach to pool and beyond.
Thank you all—the heart of Makanda. Pura vida!

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jan 2026

David Christian

One of the best boutique hotels in the world. Nothing like it. I will keep returning

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Jan 2026

Juan

This place is really nice, it’s not big by any means, but nice. They have a salt water pool with a bar, and another regular pool. They have one restaurant (you can order food to the pool) and the food is amazing. The beach was rough and had a lot of rocks, but they have nice beaches that aren’t far. The employees are mostly nice, a few of them need to be fired, but most are good. The place is on a mountain, so you walk on inclined around the hotel. The spa was terrible, it’s over priced and you will not relax, we left more tense than we went in. You will see monkeys and nice birds on the property, so if you are a fan of wild life you will be happy.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Jan 2026

BENJAMIN

Excellent facility Perdonal friendly and very professional.

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jan 2026

Rene

Absolutely stunning!! The staff was amazing, amenities, food and location were perfect.
They booked excursions for us with local tour companies …again, the best.
They were there for any request.
The grounds are well maintained and the pools were superb.
We will be back!! ❤️

10/10

Exceptional

20 Dec 2025

Darion

They go above and beyond definitely worth a trip

10/10

Exceptional

08 Dec 2025

Candace

Room, pool, and staff were amazing. Food was too lux for my liking so we ate offsite a lot

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2025

Andrew

Amazing s

8/10

Excellent

10 Nov 2025

Alejandro

We liked the proximity to the National Park. Food and drinks are overpriced at this property. For the level of hotel should at least offer water in the rooms. Other than that its a nice Hotel, I would recommend it for people coming to Manuel Antonio Park.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Oct 2025

Medjeena

The staff were amazing I will be back again

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2025

Melissa

Most of the staff was amazing! Roger, Jorge, Jonathan and Elias were all fantastic! The property was very steep and when it was wet it was slick. They do have golf carts to take you around which helped. Bring some ones for tips.

The views were outstanding. Monkeys and sloths everywhere. The only complaint is the drink prices are unnecessarily high and we were not impressed with the food from Arbol for the prices they charge.

We had an issue with getting park tickets and reception was zero help and didn't upgrade our room with VIP access even though the hotel wasn't full. September is their off season which was nice that it wasn't that busy.

Can't say enough about the staff mentioned above. They went above and beyond! Would absolutely stay here again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Aug 2025

parwinder

I had a great experience. The hotel staff was awesome, and I enjoyed the food and pool.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

16 Aug 2025

Xiao

The hotel was basically half empty when we stayed here. It’s generally okay but not worth the price tag it comes with. The floors are made with tile and the hotel is on an very hilly terrain so the tiles become extremely and dangerously slippery when it rains which is basically every day in costa rica. They provide you with crocs to borrow and wear during your stay and golf cart rides to address this. The staff were okay. There is a “beach access” to a small beach with about 4 lounge chairs but you either have to take a golf cart or walk down a very hilly wall through a jungle terrain to get to it. No one was at the beach during our whole stay. If you go to watch the sunset or fall asleep at the beach and stay past 4pm, the staff will not pick you up with the golf cart. This happened to us and we ended up walking the very hilly trail up through the jungle in complete darkness. It was quite terrifying with bats flying across our faces and giant spiders all over!

We also got drinks during happy hour which was buy one get one free. However because we ordered a nonalcoholic version of the drinks, they didn’t apply the happy hour deal to our order which is odd because we ended up paying more for nonalcoholic drinks than we would have for the alcohol. The restaurant at the hotel is good but pretty overpriced for the small portions you get. Overall we felt like every experience involved them trying to upcharge us in some way. I would stay at another hotel.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jul 2025

Heather

The food and hotel was incredible. The staff was so kind and helpful with anything we needed.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2025

Lorna

The property was beautiful! The ocean front room was amazing. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The Spa is a must

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2025

Victor

Beautiful property full of amenities. Staff is the friendliest and a quick phone call away at anytime. From getting you a taxi, to room service, the front desk is a text away from whatever you need. We will definitely be back.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2025

Oana

Makanda by the Sea exceeded our expectations in every way. Our suite was spacious, beautifully designed, and offered breathtaking views—pure luxury and comfort. We loved the boutique hotel atmosphere: intimate, stylish, and thoughtfully curated. The welcome treat was a lovely touch, setting the tone for a relaxing stay.

The infinity pool and poolside bar were highlights—perfect spots to unwind while soaking in the stunning jungle-meets-ocean scenery. Although golf carts were available for transportation around the property, we didn’t use them, as we enjoyed exploring on foot.

A truly magical part of the experience was the connection to wildlife—hearing and spotting monkeys right on the grounds added such a special, natural charm.

Highly recommend for anyone seeking a romantic and luxurious retreat immersed in nature.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2025

Erin

This was an absolutely magical experience! We chose this place for our honeymoon and couldn't have picked a better destination! From the moment we stepped foot on the grounds, we felt like royalty.

The ambiance was spectacular - everywhere you turn you are witnessing beauty, lush forest backgrounds, playful animals in the trees and stunning Pacific Ocean views. Every single staff member here knew our names and were eager to help. They were so friendly and made our stay that much better.

Our Ocean Suite room was immaculate and so beautiful. The balcony and view of the ocean made every morning so special! The bathroom was spacious and spa-like, and the bed was very comfortable. Having Netflix on the TV was a nice touch for a night-in with delicious room service after a long day of adventuring.

The breakfasts on the pool terrace were amazing and the best way to start our day. The fresh fruit, coffee and juice, along with the high-end meal options were something we looked forward to. Our favorite pool, the saltwater pool, and our favorite bartended Elias, was such a nice way to unwind while enjoying the breathtaking views or the playful monkeys. The water was just cool enough to feel refreshed against the warm balmy air. The swim up bar was so convenient and a fun little party in an otherwise serene and calm setting.

We can't recommend this place enough for a truly special experience. We WILL be back someday!

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Jun 2025

Alvin

Property, room, and service were exceptional. Adrian the bartender makes fantastic drinks. All the staff were very friendly and helpful. We saw more wildlife on the hotel grounds than in the park. Also got a free upgrade to room with a pool. On the other hand,food was mediocre and the walkways are slippery and felt less than safe in this hilly wet enviorment. We were under the impression that the breakfast was included, however we were told during checkin that as we booked through expedia we only got the fruit plate not the breakfast. So that was an additional $20 + per person if you wanted the breakfast.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2025

Jesus

Beautiful location and nature.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2025

Del

Staff were very accommodating. Properly was beautiful.

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

26 Apr 2025

Kayla

The room was nice so I thought until I flipped pillows and seen makeup and the sheets were dirty… something tore me up in the room I have bug bites … the food is trash… it just wasn’t a nice experience for me

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Apr 2025

bernard

Beautiful retreat, beach not so great

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2025

Anthony

Wow, wow, wow! That was everything I expected and more! We stayed in the luxury Penhouse, Suite 19. The room is beautiful, large, and the bathroom is also large. The living room and bathroom have doors that lead to the huge balcony. Every evening, from the balcony, we enjoyed a perfect sunset view. We enjoyed our friendly visitors each day: small monkeys, an iguana, humming birds, butterflies, and red/blue birds. Despite being surrounded by the forest, no bugs or insects disturbed us. We were able to leave the doors open for hours. The monkeys would walk by a few occasions, but never entered lol. Cool experience.

The most impressive feature for me is the WhatsApp communication service. Anything you need, weather it be pillows at 11pm, a taxi ride to and from the hotel or anywhere, room food service, etc, it's only one text away, and the response time is literally only seconds!

The main pool / restaurant area is extremely beautiful. The staff is friendly and professional. We had planned to do so many adventurous things such as zip lining, jet skiing, visiting waterfalls, etc, but we didn't do any of those things because we enjoyed just staying in our large room and relaxing on the balcony and swimming in the private pool attached the balcony.

Thank you, Hotel Makana, for an unforgettable experience.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Mar 2025

Todd

This hotel is amazing. Bayron, Leo, Nielson, Jonathon!! We miss them, they were so awesome! The hotel staff is incredibly helpful and kind. I would give this hotel 10 stars if I could. Beautiful, relaxing and very luxurious.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2025

Asa

Absolutely amazing, far exceeded expectations. Very quiet and relaxing, safe and secure, best staff we have ever experienced. Would definitely recommend a stay. No need to leave property other than for excursions.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 Mar 2025

Bharati

Peaceful resort, perfect after a stressful period of time.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2025

Jose Adrian Bolaños

8/10

Excellent

05 Mar 2025

Dmitry

Good place. Stunning views, friendly staff, luxury room interiors and exteriors.

However, the expectations for a 5 star resort are high.

For example, when a particular dish is missing on the high-end restaurant menu, you'd expect a waiter to share that in advance. Then 2 days later, 2 dishes are missing...

The beach is at the bottom of a steep hill. There are gulf carts which take down and up. However, the service stops at 4 p.m. ??? Why not at least 6 or later?

10/10

Exceptional

03 Mar 2025

Tracey

Best Hotel in Costa Rica

An absolutely amazing resort with some of the friendliest people I have ever met. The room was beautiful, the drinks are amazing, and the pool is to die for. I cant wait to come back.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Feb 2025

Murad

Amazing hotel. I would definitely recommend for couples

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2025

Anna

Beautiful stay with much more than I expected! The private beach was amazing! The staff was very friendly and very helpful! The room was excellent! The animals around the premises were a sight to see! The food…..chefs kiss! The drinks….delicious! Would recommend and would definitely stay again! Makanda by the Sea did not disappoint!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jan 2025

Soren

The best part of our time in Costa Rica

What an amazing place to stay. Two pools, excellent quick and friendly service. I would put Makanda up against any other stay in Costa Rica. Absolutely beautiful in every way and an attention to detail that is hard to find anywhere to the level that Makanda delivers.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jan 2025

Bryan

Bea

10/10

Exceptional

21 Dec 2024

Paul

See my review.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Nov 2024

Corey

Exceptional

Absolutely amazing, beautiful and wonderful in every way!

Self

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2024

Christian

The property was stunning, and the staff was super friendly and helpful!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Oct 2024

Tanner

Our stay at Makanda by the Sea was amazing. The staff there goes above and beyond to give you a great experience and the views are amazing. Tons of wildlife around the hotel to view and the food was good as well. Would definitely go back. If Eli is working the bar he has all the information for what’s around.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Oct 2024

Mindy

We had an amazing week long stay at Makanda. The hotel and all of the staff are incredible. Just spectacular all the way around. Highly recommend!

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

29 Sep 2024

Nyeshamarie

We stayed in the sky penthouse and it was a very beautiful room. The staff was so friendly and helpful. Overall we rated it a 3 because the walkways and private pool were super slippery and hard to walk around. Luckily they had people in golf carts who helped get around the property. The food was average and the pools were a little too cold. Overall we loved our room but the property wasn’t as amazing as we had hoped for.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Sep 2024

Christine

This place is so beautiful!

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 Sep 2024

Kameron

Amazing property! The views and grounds were fabulous. The staff even better.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Sep 2024

Gabriela

My second time here, and it’s always amazing and magical.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

28 Aug 2024

Peter

We spent 6 nights at Makanda in the luxury villa which was a fantastic experience. The Villa was stunning and had real wow factor….we’ve stayed in many places around the world but this was definitely the best and oozes pure luxury in every detail. Staff are so friendly and helpful and are very quick to address your needs. Food was lovely and the resort as a whole is beautiful. The wild life and nature just makes it even more exotic as we saw the white face monkeys and beautiful ocean views from our private pool. This was our first time in Costa Rica and we will definitely be back as it’s such a lovely place with lovely people! Thanks to all the Makanda staff for their excellent service and hospitality which was most appreciated! Pura Vida!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Aug 2024

Renato

Facility and room was beautiful.
Good not good

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Aug 2024

tatyana

Amazing, unique place! A lot of wild life around and beautiful beach! Definitely we will be back!

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2024

Contessa

Mikanda, has been one of our favorite stays ever in Costa Rica! The staff is so incredibly friendly and helpful from start to finish. The grounds are breathtaking, extremely clean, wildlife everywhere and the rooms are so private. We're already planning our return trip!!!!

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

18 Jul 2024

Ross

The property and staff were great. Service is excellent. Food is extremely over priced compared to other 5 star resorts in the area. Food is also not great for 200 per meal. Drinks are also expensive but very good. Wi-Fi was not consistent enough for me to work. Great amenities but not good food. If food is important to you I would look for somewhere else.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

15 Jul 2024

Thomas

The compound is amazing and the staff helpful and friendly. My big disappointment is I booked this property based on a description on their website, advertising it as: \"Escape to Serenity: Experience Unmatched Tranquility\" (Why Us in their About section on their website). It turns out they have music around the 2 pool areas all day long (with pretty loud music). Our room was located above the pool and we could here the music windows closed. Far from \"unmatched tranquility\". When I pointed this out they did change our rooms (and upgraded us - thank you) but it ruined my experience. I was not able to lounge at the pool. It's a great place if you are in that constant loungy mood but not the idea I had of a high end eco-friendly boutique hotel is CR.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jul 2024

ernesto

Very nice

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2024

Adonus

Best trip of my life!!! Make sure you bring some money

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2024

Victor

stunning beautiful property. Great staff

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2024

Uzo

This was a really amazing hidden germ. The views from the room as well as swimming pools overlooking the ocean was spectacular

Self

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jun 2024

Tierra

This property is gorgeous and the staff was so attentive! Looking forward to staying here again

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 May 2024

Ronard

Awesome

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2024

Julio

Nice facility and good service

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 May 2024

Latashia

BEAUTIFUL PLACE

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2024

Brendan

Beautiful resort, wonderful staff!

The property, the views, and our room were beautiful. The staff were incredible, professional, and friendly - Irina, Elias, and team were the best. The restaurant was good, but has a limited menu and is a little pricey. The breakfasts, fruits, juices, and coffee were amazing.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2024

Kristan

Beautiful property, pools, and beach. Staff were amazing!

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2024

Mariia

Great Staff. Great Fun in the Sun. Great Accommodation's.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

11 Mar 2024

Artur

The staff are amazing here and very friendly. But the hotel itself is lackluster for a 5 star hotel. There are small issues sprinkled throughout the hotel that ruin the experience of a 5 star hotel. This is just a place for social media influencers to take nice photos of the views, that’s all it is. Given it’s in a jungle there definitely are venomous snakes around the property which we came across and staff had to kill it with a broom. The issue for us wasn’t the existence of the snake, but the lack of pathway lighting to our room where to snake was found. The lighting at night is terrible, the rooms door has about a half an inch gap underneath so all bugs are free to go into the room. Very nice looking place with nice views and amazing staff, but for a 5 star hotel with such a high price tag for their high end rooms, definitely not worth the money spent at all.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

25 Feb 2024

kerr

beautiful rooms, very helpful staff, some wildlife in the lovely grounds, but still not sure if it's worth the extra money. this is the second time we've stayed there and both times our enjoyment of the pool was impaired by the construction noise.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2024

kamal

Amazing hotel and experience!

Incredible hotel with amazing designs, great rooms, incredible views. Great cocktails!
Food is good but can get better. Amazing beach and great friendly staff.
Would definitely stay there again! My girlfriend and I had a great experience

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Dec 2023

Rebecca

We stayed at the Makanda for 4 days during our honeymoon trip and feel absolutely in love. We had the grand honeymoon suite and it was even better than the pictures online. We woke up every morning to monkeys playing on our porch and toucans in the trees. We had a private pool and hot tub and the view was out of this world. We actually saw more wildlife from our hotel room than we did when we went to hike the Manuel Antonio national park!

We ventured down to pools which were both stunning. There is a saltwater pool with a swim up bar and our bartender Elias was incredible. Not only were the drinks he made us delicious but he went out of his way to point out all the wildlife around and even showed us a sloth!

Though I will say this hotel is on the side of a mountain and did get pretty steep at times. However there was staff in golf carts that were ready to take us anywhere we needed to go and were so helpful with our luggage and anything else we needed.

We also ate at the Resturant a few times and would highly recommend eating here! The food was amazing and the service was also fantastic. This hotel is also a quick drive to either Quepos or Manuel Antonio!

Overall, this hotel blew us away with the friendly staff, ample wildlife, amazing food and incredible views. I would recommend to anyone traveling to Costa Rica and staying near Quepos! You will love this place!

Leisure Partner

2/10

Poor

31 Oct 2023

ryan

No night attendant! Dangerous property ! Very up and down hillside. Service for Costa Rica standards was ok. Design of property cool and food better than average. The property is NOT close to the beach. Access in and out of the property is not great- it’s not near anything. Overall the Hotel incorrectly advertises access to beach. Also, the overall hilly and sliding nature of the property is a disaster waiting to happen. I have traveled to Costa Rica many times and this hotel is not on par with Pura Vida.

10/10

Exceptional

31 Oct 2023

Melissa

Unique stay

10/10

Exceptional

26 Oct 2023

Stevie Pearl White

Makanda is such a beautiful place to be. The team are so accommodating, the food is wonderful and there is so much wildlife to enjoy. We were sad to leave. We will definitely be going back.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

06 Oct 2023

janny

Amazing !!

10/10

Exceptional

02 Oct 2023

ALEJANDRA

The best hotel in Manuel Antonio

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jul 2023

Benjiman Dayne

We had an amazing time. Highly recommend

8/10

Excellent

24 Jun 2023

kenetria

Makanda has the best looking rooms and beautiful property. The decor says luxury, modern. The staff is super accommodating and friendly. Alexander and Andreas took good care of us with drinks at the pool and dinner service. The area for improvement to live up to the 5 star status is room prep. Upon arrival I was concerned that several things were out of order: electronic toilet trash can (important- I’ll explain), magnifying vanity mirrors, bedside reading lamp, room card key, weighing scale, a/c unit bacteria detection). Most things were fixed by the next. I was ready to give a harsh rating when i went to bed because high star rating- high expectations. Although all fixes weren’t made immediately like I would expect, those we reported were completed by day 2 of our 3 night stay.

A few things to know about the property: steep walkways- I would not recommend or else I would stress extreme caution for anyone with walking limitations. They ask you to not flush toilet paper- a big reason to have operable touch less and/or electronic opening toilet trash cans.

Overall I would love to return again.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2023

Kasha

Beautiful property
Beautiful location
Amazing attention to detail

Alex and Christopher were stand out service providers during my stay

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2023

Rebecca

Perfect place for rest and relaxation

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 Apr 2023

Nicole

Property was gorgeous!!! It lived up to exactly what it said! It’s more a jungle experience so if your not into the wild life or rain forest I would say this isn’t for you but it’s got a view to die for!! It was worth every penny and the whole experience!!!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Apr 2023

Aida

Perfect stay at the perfect property! It has it all, beautiful amenities, professional and friendly staff, gourmet food, wild life better then at any park. Miss it already and would highly recommend anyone who is heading that way.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Apr 2023

Will

Amazing hotel, beautiful property…the architecture, design details and of course the insane jungle ocean views perfectly showcase this iconic destination in Costa Rica

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 Apr 2023

Aline

Wild life inside the property, decoration and food

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

28 Mar 2023

Steven

The facilities are outstanding. Everything is very well-designed and gorgeous. The views are unique; we also fell in love with the pools. It's the perfect place to relax and unwind.

The food was terrific. They have a high-end Chef, and it shows. The signature dinner, in particular, was excellent. The meals by themselves made the whole trip worth it. Lunch with a beer by the pool was also great—one small suggestion: increasing the variety of imported beer beyond Corona and Modelo would be nice.

We're also delighted with the service from the restaurant staff and the golf-car drivers. That said, we found the front desk staff a little dry. During checkout, they showed no interest in whether we had a good time (we did!) or if we're planing to come back (we are!). It was one of the friendly golf-car drivers who showed interest in our stay and wished us a safe trip home.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2023

Brittanny

Out of this world. Truly nowhere like Makanda

2/10

Poor

25 Mar 2023

Brian

The hotel is nice but not worth the price. The food was a major disappointment. They don’t change the oil and any fried food tastes like old, gross oil. We had way better meals out in town. Drinks are extremely overpriced as is everything at this hotel. The worst part was they only have a thin, white transparent curtain which allows the light to enter the room at 530-6 am every morning. The hotel is designed so the sunrise is on the other side but it is still very bright in the room at 6 am making it almost impossible to get a decent nights sleep at this “5 star resort”. I have never stayed at a hotel that didn’t provide something as simple as dark curtains to improve the quality of sleep for their guests. If you enjoy waking up at 6am while on vacation then this is the place for you. I would recommend spending your money at a different resort. This place wasn’t worth the price.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Feb 2023

Steven

Heaven on Earth

Paradise, literal paradise. We've been all over the world and this is by far one of the most beautiful, calm, and positive places we've ever been. Once you are inside Makanda, you really don't want to leave. While we did a lot around Quepos and loved Costa Rica as a whole, the simple moments inside Makanda are some of the best we've ever experienced.

The food is fantastic. The staff is beyond helpful, kind, and friendly. The property is spotless. The wildlife, the environment, the beauty... I could go on forever.

Yes, there is a lot of construction going on around the property because the area is growing. It can be noisy at times, but it didn't start until late morning and wasn't awful. It's so peaceful there you just block it out. It's not easy to get here, the roads are tough, and you absolutely should not drive yourself. If you want to go to other areas nearby, you'll need a taxi, it's not walkable beyond a few shops and other resorts/restaurants (which are great though). But, the staff at Makanda makes transportation and tours seamless.

I cannot say enough about how much I loved this place.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Feb 2023

Abbey

This hotel was wonderful, it had an artsy exotic feel to it. Absolutely Beautiful!

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Jan 2023

Renee

The most accommodating staff. The property is so beautiful with so much wildlife. Enjoyed our stay to the fullest!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Dec 2022

Larry

The actual surroundings once in the property are spectacular. Getting there is a different story. Roads leading to property are third world in Antonio Manuel as expected. It’s a nature buff who wants luxury on steroids. Staff magnificent food and bev the same. Highly recommend.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Dec 2022

Haim

Excellent hotel, best service, great staff

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Dec 2022

Briana

Staff were great! Property and wildlife was unique and beautiful! Highly recommend waterfall tours and exploring local restaurants and beaches!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Nov 2022

Duane

I have been privileged to stay in many of the world's finest 5-star hotels, and I have never seen a more amazing, unique and majestic resort as Mankada by the Sea. I cannot begin to describe the exquisite detail in every corner of the the resort. From the suites to the multiple pools and lucious property - including hundreds of monkeys and beautiful birds, this is truly one-of-a-kind. I would be remiss to not include a huge shout out to the very kind, helpful and efficient staff - and the restaurant team and very unique menus. By all metrics, I would consider this a 5-star resort in every area. My three nights there will be cherished - and will certainly draw me back in the future.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

21 Sep 2022

Lexi

Makanda was a beautiful resort! We got upgraded to the penthouse and the design was impeccable. The staff was so accommodating and so nice! Drinks were wonderful, views were wonderful, it was all just wonderful!!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2022

Jennifer

The pictures do not do this property justice it was even more beautiful in person! The staff was amazing. Wildlife easily in view and spectacular views from the room. Would highly recommend!!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2022

Phillip

Pura Vida!

Beautiful hotel. luxurious and modern. Online pictures are amazing but don’t do the property justice. So much better in person. You will see more wildlife at the property then on a tour of the national parks. Our waiter Alex was great, funny and so helpful with anything we needed.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jul 2022

Joseph

Perfect!

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2022

Verified traveler

Unforgettable Stay- Makanda by the Sea! Pura Vida

Makanda by the Sea is now our favorite hotel experience in all of our travels around the globe. The service is impeccable- 5 star for sure! They told us if we needed anything to ring the reception desk- and they truly meant it. They were one step ahead and anticipated our needs for everything! it's beautifully situated and has the most rich and unique decor and design! The rainforest animals all came out during our stay as they are living in a beautiful location. And the bed was so comfortable that it was hard to get out until I opened my eyes to the majestic view through the large windows overlooking the ocean. The welcome drink was fabulous- the Pipa! The private beach was so cool and the opportunity to rest on comfortable hammock beds under beautiful trees with a view like that was unbelievable. And the pools - awesome designs/ decor- are so fabulous for days or nights. The photos online are not exaggerating- this place is amazing!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2022

Juan

Beautiful views, delicious sushi, excellent customer service, clean grounds, modern rooms, and tons of wildlife.

Leisure Partner

6/10

Pleasant

28 Jun 2022

Paulo

Food was overpriced and not as good for the price. Drinks overpriced as well.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2022

Andrea

The penthouse suite was spectacular. Private pool, unbelievable view, excellent service.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Jun 2022

Heather

The location of the hotel is truly stunning with it’s views of ocean. But as other reviewers have said the choice of material on steep walkways to rooms & restaurants, pools & beach is puzzling! Any moisture on them leaves them super slippery regardless of footwear! Yes the golf carts take you around but they don’t take you right to door of your room or for that matter all the way to beach! We managed fine though! Pools lovely. Thought breakfast menu choices were limited ! Loved the monkeys swinging by !

Leisure Family